Coffee makers



May 22, 1956 E. F. HISCOCK COFFEE MAKERS Original Filed Feb. 6, 1950 7; Q FIG. I

INVENTOR. Earle E Hiscock FIG. 2

United States Patent 2,746,376 COFFEE MAKERS Earle F. Hiscock, Chatharn, Mass., assignor to Kip, Ina,

Chatham, Mass., a corporation of Delaware Original application February 6, 1950, Serial No. 142,676. and this application March 13, 1953, Serial No.

6 Claims. (31. 99-295 This invention relates to improvements in means to brewing cofiee, and other beverages, etc. i

The primary object of. this invention is the provision of an improved vacuum type coffee maker wherein weighted means is used in connection with a porous coffee retaining packet or unit under such circumstances as to efiiciently control brewing action for the economic production of a clear and clean beverage.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an improved vacuum type coiiee maker utilizing in the communicating area between the upper and lower receptacle compartments a weighted porous packet containing comminuted coffee, under such conditions that during the brewing action upward surge of liquor will cause the weight to have a bouncing and squeezing action upon the packet and the coffee therein for the economical extraction of the desirable beverage taste providing constituents.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent during the course of the following detailed description.

In the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification and wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a vacuum type coffee maker, showing an improved coffee containing porous packet held in brewing position. byv means of a squeeze action type of weight placed over the major area thereof.

. Fig. 2 is a partly sectional view of a vacuum type coffee maker with a modified form of coffee packet holding means. I

.Fig. 3- is a bottom. plan view of the packet holding weight shown in Fig. 1. s f

Fig. 4 is a topplan view of the cofiee packet holding device shown in Fig. 2..

I Fig. 5 is a plan view of a modified form of packet holder, which may be used m lieu of the weights shown in Figs. 1,3'and 4.

In the drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration are shown diflerent forms of the invention, the letter A may generally designate a coifee maker adapted to use a porous. cofiee containing packet B. fPreferably the material in this packet is some infusible substance, such as coffee, tea,.etc. Aweight C is used upon the packet B within the vacuum type coffee maker, during the brewing of the coifee. Modified forms of weights D and E may be usedlin lieu of the weight C.

The coifee packets may be constructed as set forth in my {co-pending application Serial No. 142,670, filed February 6, 1950 (now-abandoned), of which the present 2,146,376 Patented May 22, 1956 ICC application is a division, and also as shown in my copending application Serial No. 281,354, filed April 9, 1952. Suflice to say that it is flexible and porous and receives the comminuted substance therein, such as coffee, under circumstances permitting the liquid, during brewing action, to pass therethrough and through the cofiee for the extraction of the beverage providing constituents thereof.

The coliee maker A may be of the usual type comprising a lower receptacle portion 10 and an upper receptacle portion 11. These receptacle portions are preferably fabricated of heat resistant plastic, glass or other material. The lower receptacle portion 10 includes a flat bottom wall 12 having upwardly convergent d-ome shaped walls 13 defining a compartment 14 adapted to receive boiling water or coffee liquor, designated at 15 in the drawings. The neck 16 of the receptacle 10 is reduced and supports a heat resistant and insulating plastic or synthetic rubber nipple orseat 18 having a passageway therethrough.

The upper receptacle portion 11 includes a main bowl 25 of substantial spherical shape, although the shape can vary, defining a compartment therein open at the'top of the receptacle for receiving a detachable closure 27, if so preferred. At its lower end the bowl portion 25 has integrally formed therewith a coifee unit receiving well 30 defining a socket 31 of circular horizontal cross section for receiving the packet B. The well portion 30 has the usual depending tube 35 integrally connected therewith, having a passageway 19 therethrough. The well 30 snugly seats in the passageway of the insulation nipple 18, and the tube 35 extendsinto the compartment 14 of the lower receptacle portion 10in usual manner.

The member C is preferably constructed of material which will give it the most effective weight, according to the size of the coffee maker and the packet, to best function, as will hereinafter be mentioned. It may be constructed of any material, preferably non-corrosive, such as stainless steel, heavy plastic, etc. As shown in Fig. 3, it is circular, having convex upper and lowersurfaces 50 and 51. It is provided with a plurality of passageways 52 therethrough which taperconvergently from the upper surface 50 towards the lower surface thereof. The diameter of the member C is appreciably less than that of the diameter of the socket 31 so that during ebnllition the rising and falling weight will not appreciably contact the coffee maker Walls. a

. Inthe form of packet holding construction D, a discshaped body portion 60 may be provided, having perforations 61 therein of varying size; These openings are preferably smaller in diameter at the central portion of the disc 60 and respectively increasing in diameter out wardly towards the outer circumference of the disc. The center portion 64 is segmentally bulged to provide a downwardly facing socket 65 for receiving a weight 66, preferably in spherical form. The weight 66 may be attached to the disc 60in the positionshown in Fig. 2, or it may be detachable. The periphery. 62 of thedisc may be downwardly flanged at 70, as shown in Fig. 2, for engaging the inner walls of the receptacle portion 11, as shown in Fig.

as to completely cover the-packet.

To facilitate insertion and removal of the coffee pack retaining structure D; a-flexioie string-or cabie 80- is-provided, inserted loosely through an opening 81 in the disc 60 and weight 66. This string is of sufficient length to extend exteriorly of the cofiee maker, as shown in Fig. 2, to facilitate insertion and removal. The weight rests upon the packet B, 'as shown in Fig. 2, and functions as will be hereinafter. described.

In the form of coffee pack and weight retaining structure E,'I may provide radially extending spring arms 85 secured to the hub structure, the latter being weighted similarly to that of the .form. of -co nstructionfD or otherwise. .The construction B. may have. .a passageway ST-therethrough for a. cablesimilar to that shown 'inl'Fig. 12'.

The constructibnhbove described for thebrewing of liquor. from .i'ntus'ible material has two principal ends. First, to secure :the highest efficiency .in brewing, action upon thev infusible material, and second, -to secure a fiavorable liquor, whicl'isinth'e case (if coi'fee will' retain amaximum .o'fthe original aromatic principles, without foreigntastes;

it is .tobe .note'd .thatthe weight. member either covers all ofthe top oflthe pacltetorthemajor. area thereof, in position; for. exerting asqueeze action upon the packet and substantially all ofltheinfusible material therein. It has been found that the action of the weight or member holding thepacket against too 'free upward movement. resists the upward surge o'fvapor and liquor during the brewing action. ".The weight is bounced upon thertop of the cofiee packet and thus mechanically speeds the extraction of the upper and lower receptacle portions having a tube con- "nection between*tlrenr-providedwith' passageway and lower receptacle will necessarily pass through the tube aromaticbeverage material's,v etc. from'the ground coifee within the packet. 'It thus. acts with an intermittent pressing and squeezing actionjupon-the infusible material, as will be obvious from the foregoing. In addition, the weightserves as alateral deflector to the upward surges of hot water and vapor;.'thevapor rapidly condensing .as it enters the upper bowl, and causes the fluid to passhorizontally .through the packet as well as transversely therethrough. Furthermore, when the vacuum action takes place, the downward surge of the brewpasses through the passages of the weight and through theporous packet, and for those types of. weights which do notenti'rely cover the packetthe. liquor willalso pass around the outside of the. Weight and also through the .packet'. The liquor around'the weight passes into the outer edges of the packetand then laterally towards. the center of. the well t to reach the tube. Obviously, the relationship between thediameter of the packet; well and the lower nearly horizontalsurface ofthe well, the diameter of the weight and .thesize iofthe packet-are all factors in designing. a

.cofiee maker Which willoperate with. maximum efiiciency.

tn the coffee maker shown with the weight C, the well could be in the proportion .of 4"indiameter toa weight 2" in diameter. although this-is not to beconsidered as restrictive. .The perforations. in. the weightconstruction may be shaped to have more resistance to upwardlflow .o fth'etliq- I nor and vapor thanthedownwardflavor extracting lflow .tance forceofa weight or spring to enchance thebrewing action.

1 Various changesin. the-shape, size. and arrangement of parts .shown and..desc'ribed..hereinv may made .to .the

form. of invention .without.departing fromthezspirittof. the

invention or scope'of. theclaims.

I: claim: 1. In a vacuum typezicofieetmakenthe-combination of passageway and through the permeable casing, and a member mounted in engagement with the major area of said packet immediatelyabovethe passageway of said tube provided with openings therein for passage of vapor and liquid therethroughzandlof a zweight sufficient to hold the packet downwardly over the tube passageway-to entirel'y cover the-same .andllift to a predetermined degree, under the upward surge or liquor passing through the tube 4 from the lower "receptacle compartment" intothe upper receptaclecontpartment; wherebyduringth'e brewing action to produce an intermittent squeezing-ofihe packet and the coflee contents thereof.

2. A vacuum type coffee maker as claimed in claim 1 wherein the said member includes a central weight portion disposeddirectly over the top :of the tube passageway and a lateral portion overlying the outer marginal portions of the packet, and which lateralportion is provided with transverseliquid passageways there'through.

'3. A vacuum type coffee maker as defined'in claim 1 wherein the. said member includes a central weighted portion adapted" to directly overlie the-upper passageway-portion of the tube and havingl'aterallly extending relatively spaced spring arms adapted'to resiliently engage the outer marginal portions of the packet thereunder.

4. 'Ina vacuum type coffee maker the combination of upper andilower receptacles having. chambers therein, atube mounted at the juncture of said chambers having apassageway therethrough and projecting into the lower receptacle below the n'ormal'liquid' leveltherein, saidpassagewayopening' into both chambers and communicating said chambers with'each other,.a flexible filter packet comprising. comminuted coffee encased in apermeable casing-and disposedin said upper receptacle chamber immediately over the chamber communicating passageway of said tube so that vapor and liquid from the. lower receptacle chamber must passthroughthe tubepassageway-and enter theper meabl'e casing and its coffee contents, and means mounted upon saidpacket andits coffee contents and engagingand acting with ayielding. force to press said packet and its co'tlee contents downwardly so that under the influence of upward surges of liquor and vapor and'return passage of the liquor to said lowen chamber said means willbe.lifted and lowered toact with a pressing. and squeezing action .on said packet. and its coffee contents during brewing action.

5. A vacuum type cofieemakeras .defined in-cl'aim 4 wherein the means normally forcing the packet andlits colfee .contents downwardly .is provided vwith openings 'there'through to permit the passage of-tliquor back-and forth throughsaid openings and. throughsaid packet.

6. In .a vacuum type coffeemaker the combination .of upper and'lower receptacle portions having individual chamberstherein anda communicating tube provided with a passageway which'connects the two chambers, said tube extending-.intothe upperportionof the lower chamber, apacket .of -coitee includinga permeable flexible casing',havin g. comrhinuted' coffee disposed therein, .said packet. of. coffee lbeingjlocatedlin. the upper receptacle portionand'coveringthe passageway throughthe tube, and yieldable means in .the upper chamber engaging and compressing the coffee packebandits contents-over the major. top. area :ofi .theacoifee packet in. such position,; said .yieldable; means exerting -:such1a. .de gtee of" compressive z force- .upon: the. packet 'andcotfeewcontents as will be overcome under the force of upward surge of liquor through the passageway duringcofiee brewing whereby said yieldable means will exert a bouncing and squeezing action upon the packet and its coffee contents.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Harry July 31, 1888 Brown ..2 Mar. 21, 1905 Dunlap Nov. 19, 1907 Brown Jan. 6, 1914 Diefendorf Mar. 30, 1920 France Sept. 15, 1921 

